Byrne gains Capital ride in Group Two race
Jim Byrne is looking to improve on his imposing stakes-winning record for the season at Eagle Farm where his rides include Capital Gain in the Group Two BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes.
The two-year-old has been running home strongly from the back of the field in his races, giving every indication he will handle the 1400m of Saturday’s Sires and the 1600m of the Group One J J Atkins two weeks later.
The gelding, who has a win and three seconds from four starts, has been ridden by Ryan Plumb in most of his races.
Eagle Farm trainer Paul Butterworth said the owners had been keen to try another jockey for the gelding.
“Originally we were going to look for an interstate rider but we decided to stick with a local and no one is riding better than Jim,” Butterworth said.
Byrne has already won six stakes races this season in Brisbane including the Group One Doomben 10,000.
He rode nine stakes winners in 2015/16 to equal Brian York’s 30-year-old record for stakes wins in a Brisbane season.
“Capital Gain looks like a nice ride and he should handle the distance and the track,” Byrne said.
Byrne doesn’t have a ride in Saturday’s Group One Kingsford Smith Cup but will contest four feature races on the program.